We Hear: Nissan Confirms Pathfinder Engine, Big Plans for New York Show

Officials at Nissan have confirmed to Motor Trend that the new Nissan Pathfinder will get a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Officials also confirmed a big debut planned for the New York show in April.Revealed here in Detroit, the new Pathfinder is technically still a concept as it has no interior. That will be rectified shortly and the production version will debut in Chicago. Because it's a concept, Nissan wouldn't disclose any specific details about the new, unibody, front-wheel drive-based Pathfinder beyond the fact that it will launch with a V-6 engine, continuously variable transmission and intelligent all-wheel drive. We've learned from an anonymous source at Nissan, however, that the Pathfinder will in fact be powered by the company's tried-and-true 3.5-liter V-6.

We had suspected this would be the case as the new Pathfinder is Nissan's version of the new Infiniti JX35, which uses the same powertrain. Nissan may still retune the engine for the Pathfinder, but it will more than likely offer the same 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque as the JX. For now, the V-6 appears to be the only engine option.It will drive Nissan's new second-generation CVT, which launches in the JX, and appears to be the only transmission option. From there, power goes to all four wheels via an intelligent all-wheel drive system that Nissan is quick to point out can be locked in full four-wheel drive -- maximum power to all wheels -- for more serious off-roading. And while Nissan has been insisting that the Pathfinder is all-wheel drive, officials confirmed that it has a selectable two-wheel drive mode that powers the front wheels only for minimal power loss and maximum fuel efficiency. Between the new powertrain, more aerodynamic body, and a 500-pound lighter curb weight, Nissan says the new Pathfinder should get up to 25-percent better fuel economy than the current V-6 models.Another Nissan official confirmed that the company has big plans for the New York Auto Show in a few months time. He would only say that the company is planning to debut an all-new car that no one outside the company has seen before. We'll stay after this and bring you more details as we learn them.

They did this to satisfy their buyers, not just the EPA. These things virtually never got taken offroad. They spent less timme offroad then my freaking Datsun 240Z did. Play to your audience. Trail-Rated? LOL more like Chuck E. Cheese's parking lot-rated.

I like how it says " From there, power goes to all four wheels via an intelligent all-wheel drive system that Nissan is quick to point out can be locked in full four-wheel drive — maximum power to all wheels — for more serious off-roading." Serious off-roading? This thing looks like it would have a hard time clearing the curb out on the street. Like I said before, there is still hope for the Xterra.

Maybe they're going to debut a Sentra that doesn't suck. Or better yet, put the Juke engine in the Versa, tighten up the suspension a bit, and BAM, Versa Nismo or Versmo. With the Versa's already low production cost, they would have a turbo hot hatch with more horsepower than Abarth, Sonic, or Mini available to the buying public for Sonic money. Full of win!

Turning a vehicle with respectable towing and off-roading prowess that has a heritage of 4x4 capability into a FWD based CUV is only a ploy to increase compliance with the coming government mandated EPA standards. This is shameful.

Let's hope the new Explorer/Traverse chasing Pathfinder doesn't spell the end of the line for the Xterra, which will become one of the last fully off-road capable SUV's when this smoothPathonlyfinder crossover debuts.